KERRY BRANCH DOWN SYNDROME IRELAND

It is the fervent wish of the Runballybunion team to raise sufficient funds to enable, under the auspices of the Kerry branch of Down Syndrome Ireland, families of Down Syndrome children enjoy a holiday in Ballybunion. We also hope to assist in the much needed work detailed below.

We would encourage you to assist also if you don`t have another preferred charity.

The Kerry Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland has over 150 members throughout the county and represents parents and families of people with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability in Ireland.

We receive no government funding and rely totally on the generosity of the public to fund the many services and activities we provide for people with Down Syndrome in Kerry. We all work on a voluntary basis. Thanks to this, we are able to provide weekly Speech Therapy to 70 children and young people in ten centres throughout the county. Occupational Therapy is now provided in Killarney and Listowel.Swimming classes and other physical and leisure activities are organised throughout the county as well as training and information sessions for teachers, SNAs, parents etc

None of the above could happen without your support. The cost is high but we cannot afford not to provide these essential services. Our people deserve them. Projects for 2010 include training and work opportunities, independent living as well as expanding Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy as there is still a great need.

"Share the journey" is the motto of Down Syndrome Ireland and by participating in this lovely event on our behalf, you will do exactly that. Sponsorship cards are available by contacting the people below or emailing us. Míle buíochas agus go n-éirí an bóthar libh go léir ar an lá.

For further information contact
downsyndromekerry@hotmail.com
Jim White 068 22818(H) 068 21077 (W)
Donie O Keefe 087 2982850

BALLYBUNION SEA AND CLIFF RESCUE

Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue was founded in 1986 to provide a community based rescue service for the North Kerry costal area and Shannon estuary.

The service, which is staffed by a committed group of volunteers, has since its inception saved a countless

number of lives, and has been involved in over 250 rescue missions.

The volunteers are extensively trained and also provide first aid and ambulance services. Fundraising is essential to enable the unit to update and renew their equipment, and continue to train volunteers.

For further information contact
Omar : 087-9027111
Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue at : ballybrescue@gmail.com

THE KERRY CRUSADERS

The Kerry Crusaders were established in 2009 by Lisowel based Ennis native Gordon Flannery in order to raise funds in aid of the Nano Nagle School for Children with special needs'. They have already been a massive success through their participation and associated fundraising in the 2009 Dublin City Marathon.

For further information contact The Kerry Crusaders at gordoflannery@gmail.com

ORBIS IRELAND

45 million people in the world are blind; 36 million of them don’t have to be if only they had access to basic eye care services.

In too many countries children who are blind or visually impaired struggle in school, are unable to join the

workforce or contribute to their family income and, more than often, are seen as a burden on families and society.It is estimated that up to half of children in developing countries will die within a year of becoming blind.

ORBIS is working to change this and since 1982 ORBIS has treated more than 10 million people for blindness related diseases in 87 developing countries worldwide.

ORBIS travels across the globe carrying out training projects onboard the Flying Eye Hospital an aircraft specially converted into a roaming eye hospital. What is perhaps different with ORBIS is that we do not simply fly into a region and perform a lot of life saving surgeries, we actually train local doctors and nurses to perform these surgeries themselves, thus reaching far greater numbers of blind people.

In 2007, ORBIS Ireland adopted the World Health Organisation’s SAFE strategy which involves conducting corrective Surgery, to reverse the effects of trachoma; distributing Antibiotics to treat the initial blinding infection; raising awareness of Facial cleanliness to prevent the bacteria which causes infection; and improving the surrounding Environment through improving access to clean water and sanitation.

Our vision is ambitious, but one that is vital for the social and economic growth of this region. The people of Ethiopia are depending on good the will of people and businesses to ensure that the ORBIS vision becomes a reality.

For further information and sponsorship card please contact
Diane Weatherup ORBIS Ireland.
2nd Floor, Bracken Court, Bracken Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18
Tel: +353 12933060 Fax: +353 12933001 Mob: +353 (0) 872588173